Device for cleaning ash-pans of locomotives.



N. oL-s0N. DEVICE FOR CLEANING ASH PANS 0P LOCOMOTIVES.

APPLICATION. FILED SEPT. 20, 1910.

Patented Mar. 21, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' Va/Z5 068cm N. OLSON.

DEVICE FOR CLEANING ASH PANS 0P LOGOMOTIVES.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1910.

987,591 Patented Mar.21, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Nets OLSON, OFIBIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

DEVICE FOR' CLEANING ASH-FANS 0F LOCOMOTIVES Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1911.

Application filed September 20, i910. Serial No. 582,956.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NnLs OLSON, citizen of the United States, residing at Avondale Station, Birmingham, in the county of J efferson and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'Devices for Cleaning Ash-Pans of Locomotives, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to locomotives and more particularly to certain new and useful improvements in means for cleaning the ash pans of locomotives of the ashes therein and means for flooding the ash pans or thawing them in case the ash pans become frozen.

The invention has for its primary object an improvement upon the construction shown in my Patent No. 942,737, and embodies in its general features improved means whereby the ashes are dampened so as to quench any live coals that happen to be deposited in the ash pan, as well as means whereby the ash pans may be effectually cleaned whenever desired by the use of water and steam led thereto from the injector or by air when the use of water is not desired,

as in freezing weather. Provision is also made whereby dry steam'may be discharged upon the ash pan to thaw it when water has become frozen thereon and also whereby the boiler may be connected either with a hose for discharging water, as in case of fire, or with a plug whereby the boiler may steam present in it. Other objects will more fully appear in thecourse of this description.

'tion of a locomotive engine in dotted lines L The invention consists in certain constructlons, arrangements and combinations of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of theinvention,

Figure 1 is aview showin the rear porand my inventionapplled thereto in full lines; Fig. 2 is a plan View ofthe ash pan and the piping arrangement-shown in Fig. 1; 3 is a perspective view showing an ash pan in dotted lines with my improvements applied. thereto, the header being shown in full lines; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the header, whereby water is deposited in the ash pan; Fig. 5

is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the header; and, Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation showing how my device is connected to a double ash pan.

Corresponding and like parts arereferred to in the following description and indicated in all theviews' .of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the ash pan of a steam engine, (a locomotive engine in this instance) and 2 designates a substantially U-shaped header or conduit which is mounted in the bottom of the ash pan whichextends around three sides thereof-as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3.

In my former patent, I showed a U- shaped pipe provided with Y-nozzles ex-. tending therefrom, this U-shaped pipe-lying upon the bottom of the ash pan. 1 have found in practice that this pipe is liable to burn out and to become clogged with ashes, hence in order to improve this portion of the apparatus, I provide in place of the pipe the U-shaped header 2 above referred to, which fits snugly on the bottom of the ash pan against the sides thereof and which is substantially quadrilateral in cross section, as shown in Fi 4. This header or conduit 2 has an inclined upper face 2 which inclines downward and toward the middle of the ash pan to a point an inch or so above the bottom of the ash pan. The inside face of the header descends directly toward the bottom'of the ash pan and is formed with an upwardly and outwardly extending recess 3. This recess extends along all three sides of the header and the top of the recess overhangs, as illustrated in Fig. 4, while the bottom face of the recess is downwardly inclined. The inner wall of the recess is formed with a plurality of elongated slots 01: perforations 4 through which the water is ejected upon the ash pan,

while the material forming the inside wall of the header adjacent to the forward end of each slot, is rearwardly .and inwardly bent as at 4, thus'forming a deflecting tongue, whereby the water passing through the header is directed outward through the slot 4 in the form'of a jet. The water being suddenly turned in its course, is ejected from the slots 4 with considerable force, strikes the bottom of the ash pan and will under ordinary circumstances, entirely clean it, the bottom of the ash pan being, of course, inclined as is usual in these constructions.

I find in practice that a water duct or each leading to the water space of conduit of the character described which practica-ll fills the corners of the ash an,

-is a consi .erable improvement over the p pes described in my prior patents 1 that the inclined upper face 2 for the reason of the header prevents the lodgment of ashes thereon, while the overhang 2 above the longitudinally extending recess 3. prevents the ashes cloggin the perforations 4, thus keeping the perforations entirely clear and permitting the rapid ejection of the water upon the ash pan. 1 v

In the present embodiment of my inventip'n, the U- haped header 2 is connected by pipes 5 and 5 to right and left hand vertically disposed pipes 6. The pipes 6 are respectively connected at their upper ends to the right and left hand feed water pipes 7 the boiler from an injector 8. Water pipes 9 are connected at one end to the usual water disinjectors 8, as shown,

the .junction of the pipe 9 with the pipe 6 and below the valve 11 in'the pipe 6.

charge or overflow ports-of the respective and said pipes 9 are connected to thepipes 6 above the lower ends of the latter but below the connection of the pipes 6 to the pipe 5, asillustrated in Fig. 1. The vpipes- 9 are. provided with check valves 10 which prevent any return of water through the pipes 9 and the injectors. p

The pipes 6' are provided with valves 11 be manually operated, these valves being mounted in the pipes 6 above the connection of the pipes 6 and the pipes 5. A three-way coupling 6 is located in the pipe 6, the branches thereof being connected respectively to each of the pipes 5 and-to pipes 12 which extend to the air drums 13 of the locomotive. It will be seen that the Preferably, the pipes12 are each provided 7 with a globe valve 14 so that the passage of air through the pipes 12 may be controlled or completely .shut off if desired. Only one of these pipes 12 orfiair drums 13. is shown in Fig. 1, but itis to be understood that the opposite side of-the locomotive is similarly,- equipped. a

. The ash pan 1 is provided at its discharge end with a door 15 which is held in either open or, closed position by means of any suitable device, such as the pivoted slotted struts 16 with thenotches 17 and 18 for engaging the studs the pan. The doors 15 are preferably formed with curved freeedges 20' designed to-keep the ashes from coming up into the different partsof the machinery. So far, with the exception of the matter relating to the header and its particular form, I have ferred to.

My further improvements over the conthe pipe-6 with the whereby the the pipe 6 and through the pipe 6 to the 19 secured to the sides of described the arrangement of piping which rs shown in my former patent above re-' struction shown in said patent are as follows: Each pipe 6 is extended downward below the connection to the ash pan and below theconnection to the pipe 9 and is there provided with a valve 24. The lower end of the-pipe 6 is open and the discharge of water through said pipe 6 is controlled by thevalve 24. It is also to be noted that whereas in my former patent the pipe 9 connected to the pipe 6- above the connection of ash pan, in this present application the pipe 9 joins the pipe 6 below the connection of the pipe 6 with the pipe 5. By means of the arrangement thus described, I can discharge the waste water from the pipe 9 either into the ash pan or on to the ground, or connect the ipe 6 to a hose whereby water from the boi er may be thrownupon a fire. Furthermore, the pipe 6 is extended above its junction with the pipe '7 and .is connected to a drysteam pipe 25 which extends to the boiler above the water level thereof. By means ofthis connection, dry steam may be taken from the boiler and directed into the ash pan to thaw it out in case that water in the ash pan has frozen therein. That portion of the pipe 6. of the pipe 7 is provided above the junction with a controllin steam may be a passage controlled. The pipe '5 is course, provided with a controlling valve, designated 23, which is designed to be manually operated in any suitable manner, header 2 may be connected to valve 22 whereby the dry water from the boiler, waste water from'the injectors, to-the dry steam or to the air drums. I

In order to provide means to increase the draft of the engine andthus increase com 'bustion, I provide theash'pan with a plumitted or shut ofi,-or itsalso, of s rality of "air discharge nozzles which are connected. by

able, manner upon the engine below the run ning board thereof and which cause air to be forced into these discharge nozzles and pipes to certain open ended -a1r receivers which are mounted 111 any' sultout therethrough into the ash pit just below grate of the locomotive. In the preferable embodiment of my invention,I support upon the sides and front end of the ash pan, the pipes 26 and 27, these pipes being connected to each other by elbows.28 at the corners. The pipes 26 and ipe 27 have nipples 29 pro ecting through the walls of the ash pit and these nipplesare provided with T-couplings 30 open at their ends at 31 to permit the discharge of air. These couplings may -also have a discharge opening 32' in the middle if desired. The nozzles formed by the cou" lings 30 are located near the upper ed 0 o the ashpan so that the air discharge therefrom, W111 ass'directly up through the grates. Thee bows 28 are connected to pipes 33'which extend outward and forward and beyond the rear end of the ash pan and are there connected to bellshaped air receivers 34 which are open at the forward ends. Preferably there are two of these receivers located on the opposite sides of the engine and in any suitable position. As the locomotive moves forward a draft of air will be caused to enter the open mouths of the receivers 34 and the: air will be forced along the pipes 33 into the pipes 26 and are thence discharged through the nozzles 30, as before described. If the air collectors 34 are mounted beneath the running board, they are out of the way, and it will beobvious that the faster the locomotive runs the more wind will pass into the pipes 33 and 26 and the greater the draft I up through the ash pan.

-The operations of the connections to the injectors, feed water pipe, air drums and steam pipes, is as follows: Under ordinary circumstances all the valves are, of course, closed. If it is desired to discharge the waste water from the injectors, but not to discharge this water into the ash pan, the valve 23 is closed, the valve 24 open and the valve 8 opened. All waste water from the injectors will, of course, be discharged on the ground under these circumstances. This is often necessary in cold weather in order that water may not be discharged through the ash-pan and cause the ash pan to freeze up. If it is desired to put out a fire in the ash pan, the valve 24 is closed, the valve 23 opened, whereupon the waste water from the injectors will pass into the pan and be ejected from the openings 4 in the header 2. If the valve 8 is opened fully and the other valves are closed, the water from the injectors, of course, goes to the boiler, but

if it is desired to clean the pan of ashes and. clinkers, the valve 24 is closed, valves 23- and 11 are opened and water under full force from-the injectors will be discharged into the ash pan and wash it out. If there is not force enough for this purpose, then the valves 14 are opened and air from the drums turned on. This compressed air will cause the water in the pipe 6 to be discha'rgedwit-h great force upon the ash pan, entirely clearing it. The valves 14, howeve'r',"should not be opened more than fifteen seconds at the most. If the weather is very cold and it is therefore not desirable to use water to clear the ash pan and the valve 23, is open, the valves 11 and 24 are closed and the valve 14 opened, and air from the drums will be discharged upon the pan and blow out the ashes. If, after using water to clean the ash pan, the water should freeze as it sometimes does in very cold weather, and it is desired to thaw out the pan, thevalve 24 is closed, the valve 23 opened, the valves 11 and 23 opened, whereupon dry steam will that the header may be be discharged through the pipe 6 on to theash pan and this will act to melt the ice and snow therein.

It often happens in case of fire either on adjacent cars or in stations, that'it is desirable to usethe locomotive engine as a fire engine. To this end the engine can be brought close to the fire and the lower end of pipe 6 connected to a discharge hose 35. The injector is then fully opened, the valves 28 closed, the valves 24 opened and the valves 11 opened. This will cause the water from the boiler to pass with full force from the engine to the fire.

the engine is in the round-house, my attachment permits it to be washed out with cold water by connecting the lower end of the pipe 6 with any suitable hydrant or plug, opening valves 23 and 24 and closin valve 11 and, of course, valve 14. The water from the plug will, of course, pass u through the lower end of pipe 6, througii pipe 5 and be discharged through the header 2.

My attachment also permits the boiler to be filled with cold water where there is no steam on in the boiler. To this end the lower end of pipe 6 is connected to the hydrant or plug as beforedescribed by the pipe 35 and the valves 11 and 24 are opened, while the valves 23 are closed. The water will pass up through the pipe 6 into pipe 7 and from thence to the boiler. In order cleaned whenever desired, the ends of the header are provided with plugs 21 which maybe easily removed to permit the pipes to be blown out and thence freed from any accumulation of scale or other foreign matter.

.l/Vhilc I have shown what I believe to be an entirely effective arrangement of pipes for the purpose described, it will be obvious that I do not wish to limit myself to any.

particular construction to this end, as the arrangement of pipes might be varied in many respects without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1

Fig. 6 shows the manner inwhich my improved pipe system may be applied to a double ash pan. In this figure l*1 designate the front and rear ash pans. 6 is the pipe leading from the steam dome and provided with the valve 24 and with the hose 35 at its lower extremity. This pipe 6 is connected to a transverse pipe 5 which in turn is connected by pipes 5% to the headers in the respective ash pans. It will be'seen that this construction is the same as that previously described, the only diiference being that there are two ash pans and two pipes connecting the pipe 6? to the ash pans.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. The combination with the ash pan. of a locomotive, of a headen'carried at the junctionof the bottom of the pan with the sides thereof, said header being connected longitudinally recessed, the inside wall of the recess beingprovided with a plurality of discharge perforations.

2. The combination with the ash pan of a locomotive, of a header carried upon the bottom of the ash pan at the junction of the sides with said bottom, said header'being U- shaped in plan and connected to a source of water supply, the header being approximately quadrilateral in cross section and having its upper face downwardly inclined toward the middle of the ash pan, the inside face. of the header being longitudinally recessed along its whole length, the recess having a downwardly inclined lower wall and overhanging upper wall, the lower face of said upper wall being downwardly inclined,

the inside wall of the recess being provided with a plurality of discharge perforations, each of said perforations having at its forward end a deflecting tongue extending into feed water pipe to the boiler of the locomotive and connected, to the upper portion of said supply pipe, a

the interior of the header. I

3. The combination with a locomotive ash pan and an injector, of spraying nozzles in the ash pan, a supply pipe, a-branch pipe connect ing the supply pipe to said spraying nozzles, a leading from the injector connection from the overflow port of the mjector to said supply pipe below its connection with the spraying nozzles,fa valve in the supply pipe between its connection with the spraying nozzles and the feed water pipe,

' a valve in the connection between the supply pipe and the spraying nozzles, a discharge connection open at'its lower end and extend- .ing from said supply pipe below its point of connection with the overflow pipe from the injector, and a valve in said discharge connection-between the connection of the overflow pipe therewith-and the open end of the discharge connection.

4. The combination with the ash pan of a locomotive, and an injector, of spraying Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing 'the pipe between nozzles in the ash pan, a supply pipe open at its lower end and discharging upon the ground, a connection from said supply pipe to the spraying nozzles, a manually operated valve in said connection, a feed water pipe leading from the injector to the boiler of the locomotive and connected to said supply pipe, a valve in the supply pipe between the feed water pipe and the'connection to the spraying nozzles, overflow port of the injector to said supply the discharge end of the supply pipe andthe connection with the spraying nozzles, said overflow connection being provided with a check valve, a manually operated valve in the discharge connection below the junction of the overflow pipe, an air drum, pipe connecting the air drum with the supply pipe intermediate the valve therein and the connection with the overflow pipe, and a manually operated valve in said air pipe for controlling'the passage of air from the air drum.

5. The combination with the ash pan of a locomotive and an in ector, of spraying nozzles 1n the ash pan, a supply pipe connected tosaid nozzles and lso connected to a source of dry steam, a valve cuttlng off the supply pipe from the dry steam source,

a connection from the f a feed'water pipe extending from the injector to the boiler and connected to the supply pipe below said valve,'a valve in the supply pipe above the connection of the supply pipe with'the spraying nozzles, and an overflow pipe leading from the overflow port of the injector and opening into the supply pipe below its connection with the spraying nozzles, a check valve in the over flow pipe, a compressed air tank, a pipe leading'from said tank, and provided with a valve, and a connection extending from the lower end of the supply pipe for discharging the water in the supplv pipe upon the ground, he connection being provided with a coupling whereby it-may be connected .to a hose pipe. 4 V

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses. j

\ NELS OLSON. [1. s] 'VVitnesses E. W. HANNIL, W. W. SILK.

Commissionerof Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

